Abstract

A better understanding of the basic pathophysiology of cardiac function (hemodynamics) will help us gain much clearer insight into the consequences and management of an RVI. As blood from the venous circulation enters the right atria via the vena cava, it passes through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle, filling it. This is referred to as preload. Once filled, the ventricle contracts, ejecting blood through the pulmonary arteries and into the pulmonary vessels. Here, blood is oxygenated and moves to the left atria, through the mitral valve, and then to the left ventricle.